MELD score < 18 rule out 28-day ACLF development among inpatients with hepatitis B-related previous compensated liver disease.

The acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) development is highly dynamic. Currently, no satisfactory algorithm identifies patients with HBV at risk of this complication. The aim of the study was to characterize ACLF development in hospitalized HBV-related patients without previous decompensation and to test the performance of traditional prognostic models in ruling out ACLF development within 28 days on admission we conducted a cohort study.

Plasma Exchange-Based Non-bioartificial Liver Support System Improves the Short-Term Outcomes of Patients With Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a complicated syndrome with extremely high short-term mortality. Whether plasma exchange (PE) improves HBV-ACLF outcomes remains controversial. Here, PE-based non-bioartificial liver support system (NB-ALSS) effects on short-term HBV-ACLF patient outcomes were investigated.

Impact of Hepatic Encephalopathy on Clinical Characteristics and Adverse Outcomes in Prospective and Multicenter Cohorts of Patients With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Diseases.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a severe complication, and its contribution to clinical adverse outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver diseases from the East is unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of hepatic encephalopathy on clinical characteristics and adverse outcomes in prospective and multicenter cohorts of patients with acute-on-chronic liver diseases. We conducted a cohort study of two multicenter prospective cohorts.

Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points Relieves Brain Edema after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats via Inhibiting MAPK Signaling Pathway.

Objective: To investigate whether blood-brain barrier (BBB) served a key role in the edema-relief effect of bloodletting puncture at hand twelve Jing-well points (HTWP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the potential molecular signaling pathways.

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the sham-operated (sham), TBI, and bloodletting puncture (bloodletting) groups (n=24 per group) using a randomized number table. The TBI model rats were induced by cortical contusion and then bloodletting puncture were performed at HTWP twice a day for 2 days.

A drug-eluting Balloon for the trEatment of coronarY bifurcatiON lesions in the side branch: a prospective multicenter ranDomized (BEYOND) clinical trial in China.

Background: Treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions remains challenging; a simple strategy has been preferred as of late, but the disadvantage is ostium stenosis or even occlusion of the side branch (SB). Only a few single-center studies investigating the combination of a drug-eluting stent in the main branch followed by a drug-eluting balloon in the SB have been reported. This prospective, multicenter, randomized study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of a paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PEB) compared with regular balloon angioplasty (BA) in the treatment of non-left main coronary artery bifurcation lesions.

Synthesis and Performances of Phase Change Microcapsules with a Polymer/Diatomite Hybrid Shell for Thermal Energy Storage.

The mechanical behavior of phase-change microcapsules (microPCMs) is of vital significance for practical applications in thermal energy storage. Hence, a new type of microPCMs based on an n-octadecane (C18) core and a melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF)/diatomite hybrid shell was developed through in situ polymerization. Based on SEM micrographs, most microPCMs exhibited a nearly spherical and smooth microstructure, with broadened particle size distributions.

Expression profile of microRNAs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of rats as predictors for smoke inhalation injury.

Smoke inhalation injury (SII) is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients with severe burns, however, the underlying mechanisms of SII are still not fully understood. In our study, we established an advanced rat model of SII based on the previous work, and explored the dynamic changes of pathophysiology and inflammatory factors during 28days post SII. We also measured the different expressions of miRNAs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) between SII and normal control rats by miRNA microarray.

miR-22-Notch Signaling Pathway Is Involved in the Regulation of the Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

microRNA-22 (miR-22) is a brain-enriched regulatory gene which has been reported to be involved in the development of cancers. The Notch signaling pathway exerts important functions in cell growth. This study is designed to investigate the mechanisms of miR-22-Notch signaling pathway in apoptosis and autophagy of human ovarian cancer cells.

Effectiveness of paroxetine in the treatment of poststroke depression.

This study retrospectively investigated the effectiveness of paroxetine for the treatment of poststroke depression (PSD).Seventy patient cases with PSD were included in this study, and were assigned to an intervention group and a control group equally. All patients received routine treatment in both groups.

Large retrospective study of artificial dura substitute in patients with traumatic brain injury undergo decompressive craniectomy.

Background: Decompressive craniectomy is widely used for treating patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Usually patients have dura mater defect due to surgery or injury itself. The defective area may left open or repaired by artificial dura substitutes.

Effects of Different Training Loads on Emotional State and mRNA and Protein Expressions of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Subunits, Postsynaptic Density 95, and Kinesin Family Member 17 in Hippocampus of Rats.

BACKGROUND Emotional state can be affected by different training loads. The aim of this study was to explore the changes of rat emotional state, as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95), and kinesin family member 17 (KIF-17) in the hippocampus, by long-term moderate-intensity and high-intensity training models in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS The exercise model of SD rats was set up by treadmill running of moderate and high intensities for 4 weeks.

Effects of silenced PAR-2 on cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) on cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis in the esophageal EC109 cell line. Two short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmids were constructed based on the PAR-2 mRNA sequence in humans, and they were transfected into the EC109 esophageal cancer cell line, and the stable interference cell line (shRNA-PAR-2 EC109) was obtained by puromycin selection. Following transfection of PAR-2 shRNA-1, PAR-2 expression was significantly downregulated in mRNA level and protein level in EC109 cells (P<0.

[A preliminary study on the autophagy level of human periodontal ligament cells regulated by nicotine].

Objective: To explore the effect of nicotine on the autophagy level of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs).

Methods: Periodontal tissues collected from premolars for orthodontic treatment reasons were used to culture hPDLCs. Western blot analysis was performed to test the most optimal time and concentration of nicotine on the autophagy level of the hPDLCs.

Brain tissue partial pressure of oxygen predicts the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury under mild hypothermia treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance and changes of brain tissue partial pressure of oxygen (PbtO2) in the course of mild hypothermia treatment (MHT) for treating severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Methods: There were 68 cases with sTBI undergoing MHT. PbtO2, intracranial pressure (ICP), jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjvO2), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were continuously monitored, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale score.

[Implementation of modern rescue medicine].

Catastrophic disasters occur frequently in recent years, resulting in a large number of casualties. Thus, more and more scholars begin to focus on a newly emerged displine-rescue medicine. This paper introduces the status quo of rescue medicine and expounds the practical experience related to rescue medicine as practiced by author's unit, in order to provide a reference for the establishment of the discipline and its future development.

Monitoring intracranial pressure utilizing a novel pattern of brain multiparameters in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical value of multiple brain parameters on monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) procedures in the therapy of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) utilizing mild hypothermia treatment (MHT) alone or a combination strategy with other therapeutic techniques. A total of 62 patients with sTBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score <8) were treated using mild hypothermia alone or mild hypothermia combined with conventional ICP procedures such as dehydration using mannitol, hyperventilation, and decompressive craniectomy. The multiple brain parameters, which included ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, transcranial Doppler, brain tissue partial pressure of oxygen, and jugular venous oxygen saturation, were detected and analyzed.

Ocular diseases: immunological and molecular mechanisms.

Many factors, such as environmental, microbial and endogenous stress, antigen localization, can trigger the immunological events that affect the ending of the diverse spectrum of ocular disorders. Significant advances in understanding of immunological and molecular mechanisms have been researched to improve the diagnosis and therapy for patients with ocular inflammatory diseases. Some kinds of ocular diseases are inadequately responsive to current medications; therefore, immunotherapy may be a potential choice as an alternative or adjunctive treatment, even in the prophylactic setting.

Is Intracranial Pressure Monitoring of Patients With Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury Valuable? An Observational Multicenter Study.

Background: Although intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recommended by the Brain Trauma Foundation, any benefits remain controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ICP monitoring on the mortality of and functional outcomes in patients with severe diffuse TBI.

Methods: Data were collected on patients with severe diffuse TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score on admission <9 and Marshall Class II-IV) treated from January 2012 to December 2013 in 24 hospitals (17 level I trauma centers and 7 level II trauma centers) in 9 Chinese provinces.

Elastic modulus affects the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells.

It remains poorly understood if carrier hardness, elastic modulus, and contact area affect neural stem cell growth and differentiation. Tensile tests show that the elastic moduli of Tiansu and SMI silicone membranes are lower than that of an ordinary dish, while the elastic modulus of SMI silicone membrane is lower than that of Tiansu silicone membrane. Neural stem cells from the cerebral cortex of embryonic day 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were seeded onto ordinary dishes as well as Tiansu silicone membrane and SMI silicone membrane.

Effects of iron overload on the bone marrow microenvironment in mice.

Objective: Using a mouse model, Iron Overload (IO) induced bone marrow microenvironment injury was investigated, focusing on the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with iron dextran (12.5, 25, or 50 mg) every three days for two, four, and six week durations.